Episodes

Let's reflect on 2022, our goals, our successes, and our short comings. Great leaders are the ones who are willing to be open and transparent about their work. Great leaders are the ones who are aware of their failures and look at failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. As my friend Wade Stanford shared this week, "It is nearly impossible for you to have your best idea the first time you think about something. The most likely way to uncover important insights is to frequently revisit a prob...

Erin Jones has been involved in and around schools for the past 26 years. She has taught in a variety of environments, from predominantly Black to predominantly White to some of the most diverse communities in the nation. Erin received an award as the Most Innovative Foreign Language Teacher in 2007, while teaching in Tacoma and was the Washington State Milken Educator of the Year in 2008, while teaching in Spokane. She received recognition at the White House in March of 2013 as a "Champion of C...

Mike Alpert founded Peer Driven PD in 2019 with the goal of bringing streamlined, private sector solutions to public education. Mike’s corporate experience as a project analyst for an international renewable energy firm (Iberdrola Renewables) and as a financial services specialist (employee credit union of Intel and Microsoft) led him to realize the importance of education across all fields. Mike earned his MBA at Portland State University, with focused coursework in finance and innovation manag...

Dr. Larry Dake has served in leadership positions for over 12 years as a curriculum coordinator, principal, and assistant superintendent. He attended King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and Binghamton University, in Binghamton, NY. Beyond spending time with family, Larry is an avid fan of baseball history and spends way too much time looking up stats on baseball-reference.com. Professionally, Larry has served as a school leader for 13 years spanning three districts and roles as a curriculum coor...

Rick Morton has been a Jostens representative in Tacoma, WA for the last 21 years. Rick grew up in San Diego and has been married to his High School sweetheart for 34 years. Rick has 3 adult children and 1 grandkid. His passion is to help every school he serves improve their environment with proven strategies and programs. Rick believes that Jostens Renaissance plays a significant role in helping schools go from good to great. Rick says, "I am who I am today because of the heroes in my life that...

Jonathan Alsheimer is the unorthodox, energetic, and entertaining middle school teacher who refuses to live a life of limitations. He currently teaches at the Chancellor Middle School in Spotsylvania County, VA. In addition to being a passionate educator, Jonathan is an international keynote speaker and the author of "NEXT LEVEL TEACHING," a #1 new release in education on Amazon in March of 2020. Jonathan worked at the world-renowned Fred Lynn Middle School, which was featured in two documentar...

Dr. Dan Kreiness is an instructional leader, podcast host, author, and speaker who constantly searches for the most effective ways to advance education and produce high student achievement. Dr. Kreiness has worked in education for over 16 years as a school administrator, instructional coach, intervention specialist, and classroom teacher while working in districts in the New York City metro area in New York and Connecticut. Dr. Kreiness holds a doctorate degree in leadership and master’s degrees...

Texas-born & raised, Dr. Amy Mathews-Perez is currently in her 30th year of public education where she has served as a General Ed. Teacher, SLP, Diagnostician, SPED Supervisor, Principal, Assistant Principal and a Director of Special Education. Dr. Mathews-Perez has worked in the private sector as an Education Coordinator at a County JJAEP and in both home health & nursing home settings as an SLP. As a learner, she considers herself an “Experience Expert.” Amy lists passions as communication & l...

Katelynn Giordano is a Middle Level Language Arts and Social Studies educator and co-author of Poking the Bear: A guide for engaging in the conversations that matter most. Katelynn is a dynamic educator who is passionate about student voice and empowerment, promoting equity, and valuing teachers as professionals. It is her belief that what we teach goes far beyond our content—we are teaching our students to become active members of their society who have a positive impact on the world. She conti...

Dr. Chris Jones has been an educator in Massachusetts for 22 years. His experience in the classroom ranged from 8th - 11th grade working in an urban setting. He is currently the Principal of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in Whitman, Massachusetts. He is the author of SEEingtoLead, a book that provides strategies for how modern leaders can and must support, engage, and empower their teachers to elevate student success. Chris is also the host of the podcast SEEing to Lead. A finalist for the...

For the first time in the brief history of this show, I have two guests this week. Erich Bolz's educational career spans over 25-years in public education as a remedial reading teacher, pre-K-12 principal, central office administrator (small, large, and Educational Service District levels), Adjunct Professor at Heritage University and 2013 recipient of the Violet Lumley Rau Alumni Outstanding Alumnus Award, and board Member at Communities In Schools of Benton-Franklin, WA and Partners for Early...

Tom Cody, a co-founder of Top 20 Training, shares his unique witticisms, insights and wisdom gathered from his 40 years in the classroom. His professional life has been committed to education, serving as a grade school and high school math teacher and Social Emotional Learning teacher from 1974 until his retirement from teaching in 2014. Tom now devotes his time and energy to Top 20 Training and its mission to revolutionize American education. His one-of-a-kind trainings are engaging, humorous a...

Dr. Donna Marie Cozine helps overworked and exhausted educational leaders establish work life balance so they can lead their organizations and live the lives they DESERVE. She is a leader, author, speaker, podcast host, and executive coach. She is the founder of Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts in Rochester, NY. She grew the school from 194 students and 32 staff members to 506 students and 93 staff members in 7 years. She is passionate about helping leaders find personal and profes...

Doug Kaplicky is honored to serve as Adams Elementary Principal (Yakima WA) and Consulting Owner of the Positive Focus Group. After 12 years in school administration and teaching at the college level, Doug was named the 2017 Washington State Principal of the Year. This recognition was a direct reflection of an amazing, certified and classified middle school staff, who valued students’ individual needs, teamed with parents, celebrated peers, while collaborating on a district vision. The staff put...

Dr. Chris Hobbs is a 20-year veteran of education holding positions of teacher, coach, student minister, principal, athletic administrator, & executive director in the suburbs of Washington D.C., New York City, West Palm Beach, and Houston. In his current role as Director of Institutional Advancement at Second Baptist School, he provides global leadership to admissions, advancement, communications, and marketing for four campuses, two models of education, and nearly 2,000 students. His career ha...

Kim Karr: After 13 years of teaching, Kim now gives students a voice by speaking full time and working side by side with the student interns and volunteers. In fact she is a co-founder of the non-profit called #ICANHELP. Kim shows students and adults how to use Digital4Good. #ICANHELP, an effective, outcome-based program, has received recognition from Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and major tech companies like Google, Twitter + Facebook. #ICANHELP celebrates youth innovation, empowers digi...

As a chronically late student, Daniel Bauer once told his Chemistry teacher a fib about saving an entire girl scout troop from a burning building to get out of a tardy. Daniel is not sure if it was the very made up story, the very real cookie he offered his teacher, or a combination of both that got him out of a detention that day … That experience taught him it pays to develop your storytelling skills. Daniel has been telling stories since then, most recently on the Better Leaders Better Sch...

Brian Martin is a second grade teacher and has taught for 20 years in a rural district in Western New York. He is a former assistant coach for his school’s boys varsity basketball team and veteran of the United States Army having served in Iraq. He is the Host of the Teaching Champions Podcast. It is dedicated to encouraging, supporting, and lifting educators up and has been listened to in 56 countries. Connect with Brian: Twitter @bmartinreal Instagram @teachingchampionspodcast Email/contact...

Dr. Chris Jochum currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) where he leads one of the largest teacher preparation programs in the state of Kansas. With an enrollment of approximately 1,000 students, his department offers virtual and on-campus degree programs in all areas related to PK-12 licensure. During his time at FHSU, Dr. Jochum and his team have led efforts to recruit and retain future educators across the country. Dr. Jochum’s...

Dean Packard has been a middle school principal for the last 15 years at Charlton Middle School in Charlton Massachusetts. Dean was an assistant principal at the same school for 5 years before ascending to the principal’s seat. Dean's wife is a teacher and they have three wonderful kids: Brooke (26), Abigail (24) and John (22). His motto: Every Student - Every Day serves as his compass. Connect with Dean: Social Media handles: @CMSPrincipal1 @CMS_Grizzlies @Unlockthemiddle Email/contact info: D...

Dave Schmittou: As an educator for more than two decades, Dave has earned a reputation for being a disruptor of the status quo, an innovator, and a change agent. Having served as a classroom teacher, school-based administrator, central office director, and professor of Educational Leadership, he often uses real-life stories and examples of his own life and career to describe why and how we need to confront “the way we have always done it.” He speaks, consults, and partners with districts around ...

Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, podcaster and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of Evolving Learner and a contributing author of Because of a Teacher. Her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude, was just released. An experienced teacher and district leader, her expertise includes learner-driven design, community building, online/blended learning, and professional learning. Learn more at linktr.ee/lainierowell. LEADERS: How will you welcome your staff back this fall? Now...

Dr. Randy Russell currently serves as the Freeman, WA School District Superintendent. Dr. Russell is a visionary and results-producing Education Leader with a career-long passion for serving others by focusing on relationships, leadership, and partnerships for educational excellence. His positive, outgoing personality enables him to interact, communicate, build relationships, and work successfully with a diverse range of students, staff, adults and agencies. He is currently on the AASA Governin...

Brett D. Schroetlin is the Sheriff of Grand County, Colorado. He is a 4th generation Colorado native, and started his law enforcement journey as an Explorer Scout in 1992, and has served as a sworn Peace Officer since 1999 as a Police Officer/Deputy, K9 Handler, Investigator, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Assistant Chief. Sheriff Schroetlin was sworn into office in January 2015 and is now in his second term serving the citizens and tourists of Grand County, in addition to his collateral duties withi...